Basketball: Florida teammates expect bounce back for Hill

By Kevin Brockway | Halifax Media Services

Published: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 08:46 PM.

“He was visibly upset, disappointed, bothered,” Donovan said. “Obviously I put him in a difficult situation in the fact that he’s a freshman, and we don’t have another point guard on our team and he has to absorb a lot of minutes and he’s kinda has to learn on the job and I’m not sure that’s the fairest thing to him. So there’s going to be some growing pains and bumps and bruises along the way.”

Walker has completed his course work and met target scores for NCAA eligibility, according to multiple reports. But those scores must go through the NCAA Clearinghouse and UF for approval and enrollment.

If Walker enrolls for the second semester, he would be eligible to start practice on Dec. 15 and available to play Dec. 17 when the Gators face Memphis at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City.

MADISON, Wis. — In his first game on a national stage, Florida freshman point guard Kasey Hill’s shortcomings were exposed.

Hill went 2 of 11 from the floor before fouling out with 3:25 remaining during No. 11 Florida’s 59-53 loss to No. 20 Wisconsin on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center. But teammates are confident Hill will bounce back.

On his prettiest play of the game, Hill flashed his athletic ability by skying for a rebound, racing the ball past midcourt and finding Casey Prather for an easy layup in transition. But those plays were few and far between. Hill finished with four points, four assists and one steal.

Hill was pressed into extended duty because returning starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin remains suspended for disciplinary reasons. It was clear Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan did a thorough scouting report on the 6-foot-1 McDonald’s All-American. Wisconsin players backed off Hill, daring him to shoot outside. Hill missed all four of his wide-open 3-point attempts.

“Kasey really struggled shooting the basketball,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “He took 11 shots, he probably could have taken 21 shots with the way they were playing him. I give him credit for his patience offensively.”

But Donovan also felt Hill’s lack of success shooting impacted his play on defense, which led to his foul trouble.

“He was visibly upset, disappointed, bothered,” Donovan said. “Obviously I put him in a difficult situation in the fact that he’s a freshman, and we don’t have another point guard on our team and he has to absorb a lot of minutes and he’s kinda has to learn on the job and I’m not sure that’s the fairest thing to him. So there’s going to be some growing pains and bumps and bruises along the way.”

Walker has completed his course work and met target scores for NCAA eligibility, according to multiple reports. But those scores must go through the NCAA Clearinghouse and UF for approval and enrollment.

If Walker enrolls for the second semester, he would be eligible to start practice on Dec. 15 and available to play Dec. 17 when the Gators face Memphis at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City.